FLOUNDER BAKED WITH APPLES AND ALMONDS POMERANIAN STYLE

The people of sea-facing Pomerania are by their very nature experts in the art of preparing sea fish. Their land is sandy and infertile, yet the cold Baltic more than compensates for the earth’s lack, acting as a sea garden which provides many delicious foodstuffs. Flounder is a flaky, flat fish that lives at the bottom of the sea and its flavour is not too dissimilar from shellfish. It goes sublimely well with the strong flavours of tangy apple and earthy almonds. {Serves 2}

2 tablespoons salted butter, softened

1 large flounder or 2 small ones, cleaned and gutted (if unavailable you can use turbot or fluke)

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped

2 tablespoons flaked (slivered) almonds

½ lemon, quartered into 4

salt and black pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F/gas 2).

Rub the butter all over the flounder and place it on a large baking tray lined with baking paper (parchment paper). Scatter the apple pieces around the fish and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the fish and season well with salt and pepper. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

Serve with lemon wedges.

{Time: 30 minutes}